RE
At Highfields Academy, we encourage reflective and curious thinkers who explore big questions about belief, culture and identity, developing respect for the diverse religions and worldviews that shape our world. Through a thoughtful and progressively built curriculum, enriched by the study of significant artefacts, people, stories and celebrations, pupils engage with different perspectives, expressing and evaluating their own views while deepening their cultural awareness and insight.
Our RE curriculum is aligned with the agreed local syllabus, Engaging Encounters, Reasoned Responses, Connecting Communities, developed by the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE). This syllabus will guide our approach until 2027, encouraging pupils to tackle thought-provoking questions about meaning, purpose, beliefs and ethics, as well as the nature of humanity.
Please refer to the documents below for further information about how this curriculum is implemented in our school.
The right for parents to withdraw their children from Religious Education (RE) dates back to 1944 when RE was referred to as 'Religious Instruction,' often associated with Christian faith induction. However, RE has evolved significantly since then. Today, it includes a broad study of world religions and non-religious worldviews, allowing pupils to learn about and from diverse religious traditions without being inducted into any particular faith.
In the UK, more than 70 years later, parents retain the right to withdraw their children from RE if they wish to provide their own religious education. This right applies to all schools, regardless of religious designation and parents can also choose to withdraw their child from specific parts of the RE curriculum.
While we firmly believe our RE curriculum offers valuable educational opportunities for all pupils, should you wish to withdraw your child from any or all of the RE lessons, please contact Vicki Hughes, Headteacher, at [email protected].